--- title: "Will & Harper: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/will-and-harper/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/will-and-harper" critics_score: 78 critics_reviews: 15 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Will & Harper (2024): what the critics said Critics' score 78 from 15 reviews: 13 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics respond warmly to Will & Harper, with praise centred on the candid, funny conversations between Will Ferrell and Harper Steele. The friendship gives the documentary its emotional force: reviews repeatedly value Steele’s openness about her identity and Ferrell’s willingness to listen and offer support. Many also see the humour as a way of making trans allyship approachable, while encounters with strangers reveal both hostility and unexpected kindness. Reservations cluster around how carefully the journey appears to be managed, from polished encounters to staged-feeling celebrity appearances. The spread runs from enthusiastic to mixed, with no outright negative reviews, and even the less persuaded critics acknowledge the pair’s warmth. Little White Lies finds the film charming but impersonal; IndieWire questions its caution and singles out the Texas barbecue sequence as a needless ordeal for Steele. Several reviews also suggest that celebrity limits what the trip reveals about the dangers facing trans people. ## Empire — John Nugent Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 16 September 2024. The review finds the documentary affectionate, illuminating, and timely. It especially praises Ferrell’s tender, generous support for Steele and the film’s heartfelt answer to whether she will still be loved. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/will-and-harper/) ## The i Paper — Vic Parsons Fi1m's normalised score 88/100 (inferred from the text). 27 September 2024. Parsons finds the documentary moving, funny and full of love, and hopes it can positively affect how people think about trans lives. She singles out the ordinary encounters with strangers for showing both the risks Steele faces and moments of unexpected kindness. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/will-harper-review-astonishing-turning-point-trans-people-3296558) ## Radio Times — David Opie Fi1m's normalised score 87/100 (inferred from the text). 13 September 2024. The headline calls the documentary Will Ferrell’s best film in years. It signals that the critic values its important subject, but the accessible page does not reveal what else they praise. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/will-harper-will-ferrell-best-movie-years-comment/) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 23 January 2024. Festival review. Debruge finds the film warm and worthwhile, calling it an important example of trans allyship. He praises Steele’s openness and Ferrell’s supportive friendship, while noting the trip’s highly managed, relentlessly positive presentation. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/will-and-harper-review-will-ferrell-1235882755/) ## Total Film — Matt Maytum Rating 4/5. 18 September 2024. The critic finds the documentary likeable, authentic, and gently moving, despite occasional doubts about orchestration and product placement. They single out its compassionate, open dialogue between friends as its greatest strength. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/documentaries/will-and-harper-review/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Lovia Gyarkye Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 23 January 2024. Festival review. Gyarkye finds the documentary endearing and moving, though its portrayal of the dangers facing trans people feels limited by the subjects’ celebrity. She especially praises the honest, evolving friendship between Ferrell and Steele. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/will-and-harper-review-will-ferrell-harper-steele-1235803352/) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 23 January 2024. Festival review. Ebiri finds the documentary warm, funny, and moving, though conventional in its structure. He especially praises the open, gentle conversations between Ferrell and Steele. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/will-and-harper-review-a-will-ferrell-road-trip-documentary.html) ## IndieWire — Lauren Wissot Rating B-. 23 January 2024. Festival review. Wissot finds the documentary amiable and well-intentioned but trapped in a timid, mushy middle. She praises the Albuquerque hot-air-balloon scene while criticizing the Texas barbecue sequence for putting Harper through a needless ordeal. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/will-and-harper-review-1234946962/) ## The Guardian — Benjamin Lee Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 24 January 2024. Festival review. The critic finds it an effective, crowd-pleasing film, though some polished moments feel overly engineered. Harper Steele’s candid account of coming to terms with her identity is singled out for its power and emotional depth. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/23/will-harper-will-ferrell-documentary-review) ## Screen Daily — Amber Wilkinson Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 23 January 2024. Festival review. The accessible page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. Its standfirst describes a cross-country road trip following Harper’s transition. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/will-and-harper-sundance-review/5189725.article) ## Little White Lies — Juan Barquín Rating 4/3/3. 11 September 2024. Barquín finds the documentary charming but impersonal, with its polished encounters making the journey feel too carefully managed. He praises the warmth and playful bond between Harper and Ferrell, especially in their personal conversations. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/will-and-harper) ## Eye for Film — Jennie Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 12 January 2025. Kermode calls the documentary a powerful, valuable work and a joy to watch. She praises its warm portrayal of friendship and its balance of political hostility with the country’s potential for openness. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/will-harper-2024-film-review-by-jennie-kermode) ## Digital Spy — Jamie Windust Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 27 September 2024. Windust finds the film a necessary, heartwarming demonstration of how comedy can make allyship more human and approachable. They especially praise Ferrell and Steele’s candid, humorous conversations and the empathy in their friendship. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a62369921/will-harper-netflix/) ## /Film — BJ Colangelo Rating 8/10. 27 September 2024. The critic calls the documentary a charming, important film about friendship and allyship. She praises Harper Steele’s humor and the pair’s banter, while noting that staged-feeling celebrity appearances undercut its documentary authenticity. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1671325/will-and-harper-netflix-documentary-review/) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 24 January 2024. Festival review. The review URL characterizes the film as a poignant story of friendship and acceptance. It singles out the bond at the heart of the road trip for praise. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/will-harper-review-will-ferrells-trans-road-trip-is-a-poignant-tale-of-friendship-acceptance-sundance-20240124/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/will-and-harper.md